In both easy and difficult ways, the Cicero-North Syracuse soccer teams sought another batch of victories before setting off in the Section III Class AA playoffs. On the boys side, the Northstars put together a big first half in last Tuesday’s game against Oswego, seizing a 5-0 lead on its way to beating the Buccaneers 5-1. During that early surge, Darren Cooper and Josh Williams led the way, as Cooper got two goals and one assist and Williams contributed a goal and two assists. Rob Spenard and Nico Commisso also had goals, with Kevin Powers and Michael Kuss earning one assist apiece. Oswego’s Stephen Auyer broke up the shutout in the second half, but CNS goalies Mike Sciotti and Jon Runge (10 combined saves) turned everything else away. The girls Northstars received a jolt in last Thursday’s game at Alibrandi Stadium, where defending Class AA champion Christian Brothers Academy beat them 6-1. Even as Taylor Zelenyak converted on a hard shot in the game’s 15th minute, CBA was in the midst of a stretch where, in 15 minutes, it got four goals. Alexis Koval got one of them and assisted on tallies by Caitlin McConnell and Taylor Gait. Eva Gordon also scored. Try as it could, CNS could not cut into that 4-1 margin in the second half, and the Brothers added a pair of late goals even though Koval and McConnell left the game due to injury. Miranda Tanner and Megan Hart combined for 14 saves. Just before the CBA match, CNS held off Oswego 2-1 at Archie Hall Stadium. The two sides were even, 1-1, before the Northstars used a second-half goal to move ahead for good. Bowles scored once and assisted on Ellen Traub’s tally. Given the no. 6 seed for the Class AA tournament, the CNS girls met no. 11 seed Utica Proctor in Tuesday’s opening round, the winner to travel north to face no. 3 seed Watertown in the quarterfinals. As for the boys Northstars, it sits with the no. 3 seed in Class AA and awaits the results of a first-round game between no. 6 seed Watertown and no. 11 seed Auburn to see who it will meet in the quarterfinal round at Gillette.